PUBLISHER
Red Door Design & Publishing, LLC
EXECUTIVE EDITOR
Stephanie Williams
CREATIVE | DESIGN
Elizabeth Beasley
Stephanie Williams
ASSISTANT MANAGER
Nikki Anderson
DIRECTOR OF MARKETING
AND MEDIA RELATIONS
Madison Beverly
SALES
Dottie Hicks
Randall Montague
Daphne Walker
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Renée Martin
Beverly McClellan
Ann Owens
Tonya Parker
Teri R. Williams
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Ruth English
Allison Cobb
Logic4Design/Eric Love
Daphne Walker
PROOFING
Beverly McClellan
COVER PHOTO
Ruth English
Toombs County Magazine© is
published bi-annually by
Red Door Design & Publishing, LLC
148 Williams Avenue • Lyons, GA 30436
(912) 526-4195
All rights reserved. Copies or reproduction of this publication in
whole or in part is strictly prohibited without expressed written
authorization from the publisher. Every effort is made to ensure
the accuracy of the information contained herein. Advertising is
subject to omission, errors, and other changes without notice.
F R O M T H E P U B L I S H E R
write your own story
Perfect is boring. I spent a lot of my youth trying to live up to a self-imposed
ideal only to discover as I got older that my imperfections are what make me
unique. I mean, really, someone has to be late to every event, right? And who
else constantly shows up wearing two different earrings? I say things that don’t
come out right, there’s always a pile of laundry by the washing machine, and I do
frequently forget to paint my toenails, but I have friends and family that still love
me, and that matters more than always having it “together.”
I love the stories we share because they aren’t about perfect people. They are
about perfectly imperfect people, just like you and me, making everyday choices to
overcome fear and set their path in the right direction. Perfectly imperfect leaves
room for growth and change and discovery. It reminds us that we shouldn’t judge,
lest we be judged ourselves. It keeps us grounded and makes space for redemption.
As I was reading through the stories in this issue, Sonja Eason’s particularly
struck a chord with me. She never said “My life isn’t perfect, so that’s the end of
my story.” Instead she talks about the challenges she has faced and how courage
and perseverance helped her redefine her future (p. 60). Mitch Oglesby planned to
be a country music singer, but when things didn’t go quite as he thought, he didn’t
give up. He just changed the plan and became an amazing songwriter for some
of the most well-known people in the industry (p. 48). Kennedy Wright thought
she had life perfectly figured out until instinct told her otherwise. Fortunately,
she listened and found a rewarding career as a result (p. 24). Emma Hamilton’s
perfect plan was to start a family after she married. Instead she’s pushing past a
struggle with infertility and using her own experience to inspire and encourage
other women who need her support (p. 98). You don’t have to look far to find the
heros...and they aren’t perfect.
We are each writing a story called life. The journey often has twists and turns
and unexpected surprises. The highs and lows are the story elements that drive
the narrative. Sometimes mistakes are made. There may even be an all-is-lost
moment. But the beauty of a story is the redemption that comes when we remain
steadfast and hopeful.
Our stories aren’t meant to be perfect. Even when they’re filled with the
greatest joys and the lowest lows, they’re a beautiful testament of what real living
looks like.
keeping the stories alive,
Stephanie Williams
Executive Editor
To share a story, send a note, or just get information:
toombscountymagazine@gmail.com • (912) 293-0063
For more stories, visit us at
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www.toombscountymagazine.com
Toombs County
M A G A Z I N E
To discover more that Toombs County has to offer,
see our business index on page 123!
6 TOOMBS COUNTY MAGAZINE
Have a Happy Summer!
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